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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- western_union_1234@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Steven Good Day" <postmaster@uprzags.ru> (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_union_1234@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:51:09 +0100
Subject: MTCN 309-0365-458 Mgr Benin Rep
--
Congratulation I am here to inform you that we have release your
inheritance payment of $985,000,00 USD. We have paid for the clean Bill
Record Certificate and now your first payment of $4500 has been release.
We have today transferred your first installment payment available for
your pick up at any western union office nearest to you, but still "on
hold" due to the unpaid endorsement & activation fee amount of $60.00,
you are suppose to pay before your daily transfer will be made available
for you to pick up on daily basis. You will pick up the bellow
installment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow
information as soon as you send the needed $60.00 endorsement &
activation fee.
The Payment MTCN is available below for your tracking and confirmation
on our official Website:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
MTCN#: 309-0365-458
Sender's First Name: Augustine
Sender's Last Name: Emeka
Text Question: .....?
Answer: ......
Amount Programmed: $4500 USD
(You can track the MTCN: 309-0365-458 by dialing 1-800-325-6000 or
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global )
We shall release to you, the Text Question and Text Answer upon the
receipt of the official charges of $60.00 which will authenticate the
legitimacy of your fund. Please do not bother to go for picking up the
money without the payment of the required $60.00 endorsement &
activation fee because the funds is still on hold and you can not pick
up the money.
You have to send the needed money to us immediately with the below
information to enable us release your first payment of $4500. Send the
money $60 with the given information below.
Receiver Name :======= Chinwuba Gabriel
Country:===== Benin Republic
City:======= Cotonou
Question:======Good ?
Answer:======News
Amonut:=====$60.00
MTCN:=======?
Sender Name=====
Furthermore you are advised to call us as the instruction was passed
that
within 6hours without hearing from you, Consider your payment canceled.
Number to call is the below listed managing director's office of the
release order: +234 8135654996
Email them via ( western_union_1234@yahoo.com) immediately!!!
Mr. Godwin Erra
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Anti-fraud resources:
